LUUKA JONES

Saturday, June 02, 2012

Back on Lee Valley

It is great to be back on the course and I am feeling a lot more comfortable on the white water here. The more you learn a course, the more confidence you have in being able execute any gate sequence and know that if you get offline you can use the features to get back on track.

The grandstands are being put up as we paddle and already the foundations are lining the outside of the course making everything seem very real. It is important to start visualising sitting on the start line on race day with the grandstands filled out with people. Having competed in Beijing helps this visualisation a lot as I already know the feeling and it will not be a huge surprise.

I have two more sessions on the course before heading to Cardiff for the first World Cup. It truly feels like yesterday that I was here training with 90 days to go until the games, now there are less than 60. The next three weeks of World Cups will be very busy and go very quickly I am sure. I will update my twitter feed with results from the world cups. More information about the world cups can be found via the following links Cardiff , France, Spain

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Rodeo Moves

With the sun out and the spirits lifted, the unintentional rodeo moves have come out of the woodwork. Ahh, refreshing!

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Nottingham

It certainly doesn't feel like I have been in Nottingham for two weeks already. The days are flying, training is going super well and the first world cup in Cardiff is creeping up, with this first major race of the season taking place in just three weeks.
I am training hard here and with a variety of different paddlers, including some of the British Olympic team athletes. It is great to have so many different people to paddle with and amongst.
I have been working with coach Andy Raspin which has been really beneficial and I feel things are going really well. With the combination of coaching here and the continued support from the Waiariki Academy of Sport back home, I am making great gains and I am really excited about the upcoming World cup circuit.
I have one more week here before heading to London for a week training camp. Following that I will go to Cardiff for what is the beginning of the world cup circuit, followed by two more world cups in France and Spain.
The Olympic torch arrived in the UK today and I was able to watch it on the local television in the early morning before training. It was another sign that time is ticking and the Olympic Games are swiftly approaching. I am happy with where I am at in my training and preparation and am looking forward to the next couple of weeks.